Autistic people across Lancashire get together to show support

People from across Lancashire are coming together to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week.

People living with the condition are being invited to events across the county for help, support and information about autism.

The roof of Preston's iconic flag market is lighting up to celebrate the event.

Preston City Council are hosting an event in the Town Hall for people living with Autism.

We spoke to Emma Watkiss, who lives with the condition and who helped organise the event.

She says:

"It's a daily struggle. Trying to make people understand what I'm trying to say.

"Sometimes I struggle communicating what I need because I have a nervous laugh and when I talk, I laugh and people misunderstand what I mean.

"Sensory is a big thing to me. Sometimes if I go into a room and it smells i just can't stay in there. Yeah, it's a daily struggle.

"It's hard to be like everybody else. When people are having a conversation, it's hard to know when to jump in. When I'm working for instance, you've just got to cope with it, but then you get home and you feel like you can breath again.

Emma also told us being at school was hard:

"I got bullied and I got called silly and naughty, and I was the clown in the class because I was always laughing. I had a really bad school experience. I went to several schools and was really misunderstood.

"I fell behind in my work, and I got excluded because of the mess I was in. When I finally went to a special school it was great.